Move over Hollywood Walk of Fame— now for something sportier! The Avenue of the Athletes was the brainchild of Andy Castle, a photographer and camera shop owner, who thought he could boom up business in downtown Echo Park by creating a walkable hall of fame along Sunset Blvd approaching Dodger stadium. The project, funded by the Dodgers and local businesses, was greenlit by the City of LA in 1974 designating roughly 10 blocks of Sunset to be “The Avenue of the Athletes”. In 1976 the first set of bronze markers was laid in the sidewalk celebrating notable swimmers, boxers, jockeys, golfers, ball players, and track and field athletes alike. The project largely petered out in 1978 when Castle died, though a few plaques were installed after his death including one honoring him, appropriately placed in front of his Echo Park shop. So suit up, stretch out, and get ready for a pedestrian time travel to the sporting past. *This lab spans Sunset Blvd. from Alvarado to Laveta. To optimize your sports-star viewing and minimize street crossings, start lab on south side of Sunset and Park Ave. cross at Laveta Terrace to the north side of Sunset to complete the loop.
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